Monday, December 14, 2009

We found this interactive map via Good. It is an interesting (and depressing) way of displaying how state budgetting on higher education fared in the past fiscal year. As you would expect, the answer: not well. Here are the facts:

On average, states cut spending to higher education 6% this past budget cycle.

Pennsylvania was slightly above the national average, cutting its spending 7% from the previous year.

Somehow, five states managed to increase spending on higher education: North Dakota (one of only two states not in debt this year), Texas, Alaska, Maryland and West Virginia.

On the other end of the spectrum, thirteen states cut spending more than 12%. Not surprisingly, these are the states that we most frequently hear about having budget problems: California, Nevada, Florida, Illinois, etc.